I Know I have to Use Android, but...

After my iPad "coudnt charge" problems and finally grab a Lenovo A3000 for Alfa. I notice several things.

Sure it have quad core processor and 2GB RAM. (my iPad 1st gen has single core and 256 RAM, my iPhone has dual core)

Sure it behave faster than my sister in law's sluggish galaxy tab 3.

Sure, it means I have to choose android over iOS with those specs advantage

but...



My quad core 2GB RAM android fells sluggish compared to my much smaller RAM iPad, even Alfa, my 2 years son, dissappointed by its unresponsiveness.

It have to be carried carefully too, something that Alfa, used to stepping and jumping and landing on sturdy aluminium iPad, didn't like.

On a completely unrelated subject, can my Android do text editing? Sure it can.

Spreadsheet? no problem.

Presentation? ugh, what do you mean? create slide? ok

Presentation on projector? I am not so sure. I used to use my iPad or iPhone to do presentation of my keynote (created on mac or on iDevice) on my physics class using VGA adapter. I don't know how to get an adapter for android here, universal or specifically for Lenovo A3000.

Creating latex document? I use Texpad on iPhone, not sure in Android.

Recording a multi track song? I used garageband on my iPad and iPhone, searching with no desirable result on Google Play.

Stuck on DFU or Recovery Mode or Connect to Itunes Logo Loop on iPhone

In the recent months, we've seen reports here and there of iPhones getting stuck in a restart loop. The black screen with the Apple logo shows up, holds for a while, and then disappears again; repeat ad infinitum. While it's not clear yet exactly what's triggering the issue (the complainants suspect that it may be a recent application update to blame), there is a tried and true way to get your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or older iPod back to square one: either use recovery mode or do a DFU restore. 


DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode is a means to getting your iPhone to interface with iTunes without iTunes automatically loading the latest version of iOS onto it (it skips the iBoot bootloader, for jailbreak aficionados). Differing from recovery mode -- where iTunes restores your iPhone to its original factory settings but with the latest iOS and firmware -- DFU mode allows you to change and choose the firmware you want to install onto your iPhone. For instance, you would use DFU mode if you want to install a previous version of iOS, jailbreak your iPhone or unlock your SIM. If (for whatever reason) standard recovery isn't working for you to get your device back to working condition, DFU may help you out.



Remember, if you restore your phone in any fashion (via the iTunes 'Restore' button, recovery mode or DFU) you will lose any modifications made to unsynced content or in-app data since your last iTunes sync (game states, voice memos, notes etc.). Be cautious.

So, here's the basic info on how to enter DFU mode (and it works for your iPod touch, too). Instructions may vary slightly by year or model.

• Connect your iPhone to your computer via USB and launch iTunes.
• Now turn your iPhone off. Hold down the sleep / power button at the top right of your iPhone, then slide your finger across the "slide to power off" button on your iPhone's screen. (If it won't turn off, press Home and Sleep/Power until the screen goes dark, then release.)
• Once your iPhone is off, hold down both the sleep / power button as well as the home button for 10 seconds. Once 10 seconds has elapsed, release the sleep / power button on your iPhone, but continue to hold the home button until the the above message has appeared in iTunes telling you that your iPhone has been detected in recovery mode. (If you just want to go to recovery mode, skip the 10- second hold on both buttons and simply connect the phone while holding down Home, then wait for 'Connect to iTunes' screen on the phone.)

If you see the Apple logo or the "connect to iTunes" screen on your iPhone, you're not in DFU mode. DFU leaves the screen of the iPhone completely black.

To exit DFU mode, simply hold down the sleep / power button and the home button together until your iPhone disappears from the device list in iTunes, then turn on the iPhone as normal.

Again, for most purposes (save jailbreaking) there's no practical difference between DFU and a regular restore, except and unless you're in a situation where your phone won't go into restore mode normally.

Now, what if iPhone stuck on restore loop instead of restart loop? It often happen if we upgrade the iOS.  I've tried to exit it using "just" DFU mode with no result. Apparently it needs more step, ... and it is...

While in DFU mode

• while you plugged your iPhone and opening the itunes go to windows/system32/drivers/etc and open "hosts" file as administrator with notepad (Mac user: use Shift+Command+G and type /etc than open hosts file using TextEdit)
• remove the last to lines with word apple in it (or add # at the begining of line)
• safe the change
• go to itunes shift+ restore choose the custom ipsw (Mac user: alt+ restore)
• enjoy the restore with out any errors no 3014 or 1600 or any other error

Maybe, on Mac, we couldn't safe the change of hosts file or even worse, couldn't open it. In this case, 

open Terminal Apps

type

sudo cp /etc/hosts ./Desktop (enter your password)

sudo chmod 777 ./Desktop/hosts

edit hosts file in Desktop using TextEdit and safe it, back to Terminal

sudo rm /etc/hosts /etc/hostsOld

sudo cp ./Desktop/hosts /etc/hosts

iRig

Several weeks ago my iRig package has come, finally. I expect it'll come earlier but alas my home's in the middle of nowhere surounded with forest and mountain, even google map refuse to map my place, :). At least it comes safely at my front door.

 I planned to use it with Amplitube on my iPad. It worked flawlessy of course. A minor annoyance, it's built in jack is undetachable, so it's uncool if you planned to bring it on your front pocket.

 I'm surprised when the thing work well with my macbookpro too. My 13' MacBook Pro only have one port audio, either for input or output, so it's big 'yeah yeah' for me for be able to record my guitar on GarageBand AND listen it.

 iRig work with GarageBand for iPad too, and several music apps like digital effect apps for ipad (forget its name), I'm sure not just that. Sadly, amplitube didn't support more space for effect, eight slot effect will cool. Here some screenshot.

From Blogsy Photos

From Blogsy Photos

From Blogsy Photos

From Blogsy Photos

iPad 1 Mirorring without Cydia's DisplayOut on iOS 4.3.3

Many of iPad 1 owner rely on Cydia's DisplayOut app for mirorring their display device on LCD or projector. However, althought just few, some had problem with iPad Dock to VGA connector to get worked with it.

Some experienced a blank display when using VGA connector. It's weird because if we enable 'dotting', and touch iPad display, the dot appear on projector. Maybe that's minor issue when we want a iPad mirror using DisplayOut but we have an alternative (thanks to MacStories). This method can be applied on iOS 4.3.3.

Assumming we could SSH-ing our Ipad, we must navigate to system/library/coreservices/springboard.app. Edit files K48AP.plist (I'm using VIM for iPad), Add lines under with 

display-mirorring

save the change, restart the devices, pray, attach VGA connector, wait n see. :)

Of course we don't have to use VIM editor, we could just download K48AP.plist and edit it with our favorite text editor or plist editor. 

DropBox as iCloud-like Cloud

iCloud coming this fall bringing cloud computing capability to OS X Lion and iOS 5. So Mac user and iDevice (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) always have their data synced among their device.

I have a Macbook and an iPad. Unfortunately its OS is still old Snow Leopard and iOS 4.3.3 respectively. I tried to register at icloud.com but maybe apple had "track record" of my device because it ask me to upgrade my mac. Hm, I wonder why Windows Vista, an old released OS, is supported while 2009 released Snow Leopard is not.

Rumors is spread that Apple will bring iCloud capability to Snow Leopard through next 10.6.9 update. While it's good to be true, I've had applied cloud solution slightly longer than apple do, using Dropbox.

Using Dropbox, we can sync files on multiple device. Dropbox upload a file to Dropbox server and then the devices, with Dropbox client installed, compare file version in its local Dropbox folder.

Dropbox is also able to sync via LAN, resulting a faster sync.

Dropbox is available at appstore as free apps.

iPad Mirroring

Yeah, as we know, iPad2 have video mirroring feature using its HDMI cable whereas we, iPad user, stuck with "keynote only" VGA adapter, but there is alternative.

There are app designed to mirorring at iPad named DisplayOut. This app, as mentioned by its name, bring mirroring capability on iPad.

DisplayOut is available to purchase at Cydia. Available at Cydia means your iPad must already jailbroken.

I don't really know if this app work with iPad dock to VGA adapter as I didn't purchase it yet. But if you googling, you'll find there is problem with VGA adapter; it just give black screen. AV component seems have no problem though.

Jailbreaking is legal (at least in US) despite its voided warranty, so it's worth to try this app.